A WORD ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS I guess most of us are just a tad superstitious, at least to the point where we don't take unnecessary chances. You know, better safe than sorry. | There are certain superstitions that I go along with, but breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck ain't one of 'em. Heck, I know a man who broke one and he didn't have seven years bad luck at all. He was run over by a train and killed the day after he broke it. Here is a list of southern superstitions I've heard all my life. I'm sure you will remember a number of them: - If you sweep dirt out of the house on Friday, the house will burn down. - Wash your hair in the first rain in May, and it will grow faster. - Cross your eyes and jump over a ditch at midnight, and your eyes will stay crossed forever. - See a cardinal, make a wish, and pinch someone to make it come true. - Make a wish on a redbird before it flies, and your wish will come true. - Sleep with a mirror under your pillow, and you will see your future husband. - When a man's second toe is longer than his big toe, he will be henpecked. - If a bride goes to the altar with some salt in her pocket, she will always be happy. - When fish jump above the water, look for rain. - Run into a cobweb, and you'll get a letter. - If your palm itches, you are going to get some money. - If your nose itches, it means you are going to have company. - Carry in your pocket a button you've found, and it will bring you good luck. | - Walking on the other side of a post from a friend will bring on a quarrel, unless you say "bread and butter." - Snakes will not come around a place where gourds are growing. - It will bring much bad luck if you sleep on new, unwashed sheets. - To become beautiful, get behind a door and eat a chicken foot. - A woman who drops her apron will lose a friend. - If your left foot itches, you will walk where you're not welcome. - Look under a bed, and you'll never marry. - It's bad luck to lean a broom against a bed. - If someone sweeps under your feet, you'll never marry. - If your initials spell a word, you will become rich. - If your shoestring becomes untied, someone is talking about you. - Shaking hands over a fence will bring bad luck. - Those whose teeth grow wide apart will be travelers. - Always step into a courtroom on your right foot when you have business there. - A woman with short fingers makes a good manager. - If you sneeze before breakfast, you'll see your sweetheart before Saturday night. - If you can see the sunshine through a man's ears, he's a rascal and can't be trusted. - Whistle in bed and you'll cry before the next night. - You can be sure of rough weather if the grape or pecan crop is heavy. - It's bad luck to climb over anybody in bed. - It causes bad luck if you bring an old broom into a new house. - It's bad luck to take up ashes from the fireplace during the Christmas season. - If a fly flies around your face continually, a stranger hopes to meet you. - Cut your fingernails before breakfast on Monday morning, and you'll get a present before the week is over. - Forget to wash a skillet and you can expect a guest for the next meal. - When hornets nests are low, it will be a cold winter. - The first thunder of spring wakes up the snakes and tells you that winter is gone. - It's good luck for a butterfly to light on your shoulder. - A wish made in a bed that's never been slept in will come true. - You can utter any untruth your heart desires as long as your fingers are crossed.